Marston School students thrilled to be back in school

Annie Hamilton

Friday

Aug 29, 2008 at 2:00 AM

HAMPTON — Hampton third-graders were wide-eyed with wonder as they entered the halls of the Adeline C. Marston Elementary School on their first day back to school, Tuesday, Aug. 26. Meanwhile, fourth- and fifth-graders tried their hand at opening, filling and closing their new lockers.

HAMPTON — Hampton third-graders were wide-eyed with wonder as they entered the halls of the Adeline C. Marston Elementary School on their first day back to school, Tuesday, Aug. 26. Meanwhile, fourth- and fifth-graders tried their hand at opening, filling and closing their new lockers.

From there, every class huddled into a circle on the floor for their Morning Meeting, a daily ritual to help the students and the teachers get acclimated with the day's activities.

The fourth-graders get lockers for the first time this year, and many couldn't wait to decorate theirs. They had to learn how to lift the latch to open the locker, figure out how to fit all of their school supplies, backpacks, and decorations within it, and then how to lift the latch again to close the door without slamming it shut.

Fourth-grader Emily Parks said there was a lot she missed about school over the summer, including her teachers, art class and literature. "I just want to get back into reading," Parks said.

Aidan Kittredge, 10, has been home-schooled until this year.

"I don't know what my favorite part is because I haven't been here," she said.

Kittredge is in fourth grade with her best friend now and said she can't wait to learn with other children.

As the students prepared to visit the cafeteria for the first time this year, they had to go through some first-day reminders about hallway etiquette. It's not as easy as it looks to keep a single-file line straight and quiet when snack time is on the brain.

Many of the students in Michelle Porter's third-grade class showed healthy desires for exercise when they said their favorite parts of the day are recess and gym class.

Third-grader Brian Coffen said the class is going to do a lot of cool things and he is eager for his classes.

"I'm really looking forward to all the stuff we're going to do this year," Coffen said.

Classmate Kayla Burgess can't wait to get to her first art class at the new school. She said she wants to draw flowers. Classmates Arthur Holley and Jacob Patterson want to do exciting experiments in science class.

Porter, who has been teaching the third grade for about 10 years now, is ready to begin a new year. She said she enjoys the third-grade students because they are fairly independent and very determined. "They have good work habits," she said.

Principal David O'Connor is very proud of the wonderful and welcoming atmosphere of Marston School. He has been working there for almost 10 years and said it has taken a long time to get the school to where it is today.

"It's a great school," he said.

Fifth-graders at Marston are excited to have bigger lockers this year than the fourth-grade lockers they had last year. Fifth-grader Emily Durant said they are good for winter because they can fit big coats, and she can fit her sister inside of one. Fellow fifth-grader Sally Hamblet is also excited for the bigger lockers.

"Last year, they were small, now they're spacious," she said. "I bet you could fit a few third-graders in there too!"

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